In certain circumstances, a patient may register at more than one transplant center in different states — a so-called "Multiple Listing."

To be multiple-listed, the candidate needs to be able to reach the transplant centers quickly should an organ become available.

This is because transplant surgery has to take place in the area where the organ was donated, and not where the patient lives. Also, organ transplantation has to take place within a very specific time frame.

According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which maintains the waiting list, some studies suggest multiple listing can shorten the average waiting times of kidney transplant candidates by several months.